3. April

3

APRIL

His hand on mine is driving me crazy. He’s a big guy, making me feel small and almost dainty next to him. I snap my eyes up to his, and he’s still looking at me with his big, brown, soulful eyes. “I’m sorry, what?” I ask.

He leans in because I guess he thought I couldn’t hear him. “How do you know Josh and Violet?”

I turn my head, but instead of his ear, I’m looking straight at him, our faces so close I can feel his breath on my cheek. “Uh, you know Violet owns Red’s Diner in Whiskey Run?”

He nods, staring at my lips. “Yeah, I knew she owned a diner.”

“Well, her diner is just down the street from the bakery, and well, have you ever been to Whiskey Run?”

He shakes his head. “Nope. I know it’s only thirty minutes from here, but I haven’t been there.”

“Well, it’s a small town, and we all know each other, but Violet is a good friend of mine. I make cupcakes for her to sell in the diner, and we sort of hit it off from the start.”

“I want to try one of your cupcakes,” he says with a lick of his lips.

I laugh. “Well, the next time you’re in Whiskey Run, you’ll have to come by the bakery or the diner and grab one.”

He clears his throat and sits back. “I’m here for another week... less than a week actually.”

“Oh, you don’t live here in Jasper?”

“I have an apartment here during the season, but I planned to go home until spring,” he says, and I swear he almost looks sad about it.

“Where’s home?” I ask him.

A waitress comes to stand next to our table. She’s staring at Matt, but he doesn’t seem to notice. “Can I get you all anything?”

He looks at me with raised eyebrows, and I shake my head. “No, thanks.”

“Are you sure?” he asks.

“No really. I have to drive. I’m good,” I tell him.

“Nothing, thank you,” he tells the waitress, still looking at me. She looks almost longingly at him before walking away.

“So where’s home?” I ask him again.

“Texas,” he says.

An idea forms in my head. “And you’re only here for a week?” I ask to be sure I heard him right.

He nods, searching my face. He wants to say something. He opens his mouth but then closes it quickly.

I’m about to ask him what he wants to say when someone comes up to him and slaps him on the back. “Hey, Matt! They have a private room in the back. That’s where the party’s at.”

Matt looks up at him, and it’s obviously one of his teammates. He’s built like a football player anyway. “Hey, yeah, I’ll be there in a minute.”

The guy looks between Matt and me before leaning around Matt toward me. He holds out his hand. “Hey, I’m James.”

Matt’s hand that is on mine tightens, so I lift my other hand. “Hi. I’m April.”

James starts to lift my hand to his mouth, and before I can tug it away, Matt stands up, forcing James to step back and drop my hand. He turns to his friend. “Go ahead, James. I’ll be back there in a minute.”

James wants to argue with him. It’s obvious by the crease of his forehead he doesn’t like to be told what to do. But thankfully, he just nods at Matt. “See you around, April.”

I don’t answer him because he’s already walking toward the back.

Matt takes a deep breath as he hovers over me. There’s indecision on his face, and I wait to see what he’s thinking.

“So I have to go say hi at least. Want to go with me?”

“Uh, I don’t think so,” I answer instantly.

“Are you sure? I won’t leave your side,” he says.

But I shake my head.

He looks toward the back and then at me. “Okay, so will you wait for me? Literally, ten minutes. Probably less.”

I go to stand up. “I can just go. I don’t want you missing your party...”

He puts his hands on my shoulders. “No, really, I just need to make an appearance. In and out.” He pushes a piece of hair away from my face and tucks it behind my ear. “Plus, I want to spend some time with you.”

My body shudders because he’s saying exactly what I’m feeling. I want to spend some time with him too. “Are you sure?” I ask him.

He leans in, and I think he’s going to kiss me again. The first one was unexpected, but damn, it was good. When his lips press to my forehead, I sigh because I may have wanted his lips on mine, but this is just sweet. How can he look like he does and be gentle and sweet? I ignore the pounding of my heart in my chest. “I’ll be right here.”

He watches me as I sit down, and when he makes no move to go, I can’t help but laugh. I’ve never felt a pull of attraction like this. “The sooner you go, the sooner you can get back,” I tell him.

That seems to wake him up. “Right. Right. I’ll be right back. Don’t move,” he says, and only when I agree does he walk away, practically jogging to the back.

I watch him until I can’t see him anymore and then look around the bar. There are people everywhere, laughing and having a good time. I pick up my phone and see I missed a text from Violet. She was asking if I made it home safe.

I text her back. “Not yet. Can I call you?”

I wait for her to text back. Normally, I’d just call her, but I don’t know if JJ is asleep or what, and I don’t want to wake him up.

I practically jump out of my skin as I’m staring at the phone and it starts to ring. I laugh and put it up to my ear. “What’s wrong? Are you okay?” Violet says.

“Yes, I’m fine. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to worry you. I just had a question, that’s all.”

“Sheeeew. I was worried for a minute. Sure, what’s up?”

I put my hand to my head. I probably should have thought about this a little more. “So uh, what can you tell me about Matt Adams?”

She’s silent for a second, and I’m beginning to think she didn’t hear me. “You know, the center for Josh’s team.”

She laughs at that, and I mean loud. I have to pull my phone away from my ear. “Oh, you know football now? That’s hilarious.”

“Har, har. Seriously, what do you know about him?”

“Well, Josh likes him. He seems like a good guy. Always real polite to me. He has a good reputation. Doesn’t party, or at least if he does, it’s not all over the news or anything.”

“Okay,” I say, lost in thought.

“Okay? What does that even mean?” she asks me.

“It means I think I found the one.”

“What? April, that’s so great. I’m so happy for you—" she starts, but I interrupt her when I realize she has the wrong idea. “No, not the one the one. I mean, remember us talking earlier today and me telling you that I just needed a one-night stand? Well, he’s perfect. He’s leaving this week. He’s a good guy. And I mean, damn, he’s hot.”

“Wait. He’s leaving?” she asks. “I didn’t know he was leaving.”

“Yeah, but he’ll be back in spring for football. This is perfect.”

She sounds hesitant. “If you’re sure this is what you want....”

“I am,” I tell her. I’ve had relationships before, and they were always disappointing. I don’t need a man that’s more interested in hanging out with his friends than me. Heck, I lost count of how many times my ex, Reagan, left me at home and went to a party or whatever. I definitely don’t need that in my life. But I do miss the intimacy, which is how I came up with this plan.”

We’re mid conversation when a man stands next to me. “Hey, Violet, I have to go. I’ll call you tomorrow,” I tell her before hanging up.

“Hello.”

He reaches for the chair next to me. “So what’s a pretty thing like you doing here by yourself? Mind if I have a seat?”

He’s about to sit down when Matt reappears. He leans over me with a big smile on his face. He kisses me, and this time, I put my hands on each side of his neck to hold him there. His muscles bunch under my palms, and he deepens the kiss. There’s a shrill scream and then laughter across the room that has me pulling back. “Wow,” he says at the same time I do.

The man that was going to sit down is long gone, and Matt sits in the seat next to mine. “That didn’t take long. I promise if you want to go—I mean, you all are here to celebrate, right?”

He shrugs like he could care less. “I can celebrate with you.”

That’s my opening, and before I can talk myself out of it, I blurt out, “Would you like to come to my house tonight?”

He’s up, pulling me into his arms in an instant. “Yes. I would love to.”

Standing up next to him as he holds me against him, feeling his body pressed to mine makes me think that we fit perfectly together. “Great. Let’s get out of here,” I say breathlessly.

His arm goes around my waist, and we walk outside. The whole way, I’m chanting to myself, One night, one night, one night.